Douglas Alexander: “The issue before us is a pretty simple one. I think a lot of other Americans think President Bush ought to appoint…”

“The issue before us is a pretty simple one. I think a lot of other Americans think President Bush ought to appoint judges with conservative principles who will not make up the rules as they go along, who will not make up the law as they go along, who will enforce the law as they find it, as Attorney General Bill Pryor does in Alabama, as Judge Pickering does in Mississippi. The issue here, after all the charts are taken down and all the rhetoric is put aside, is very simply this: For the first time in our Nation's history, the Democrats are using the filibuster to keep us from having an up-or-down vote on President Bush's nominees after they have gotten out of committee, after they have gotten to the floor, and after it is clear they have a majority of votes. That is the first time in our Nation's history. Second, they are doing it to extraordinarily well qualified women and men. I don't know whether that is grounds to change the rules of the Senate or not. But it surely is grounds for the people of the South and this country to address in the next election.”